Mandevilla plant named ‘FGVP1’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Mandevilla  plant named ‘FGVP1’, characterized by its initially upright to outwardly spreading and strongly vining plant habit; medium green-colored leaves; pink-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Mandevilla splendens.

Cultivar denomination: ‘FGVP1’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofMandevilla plant, botanically known as Mandevilla splendens andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘FGVP1’.

The new Mandevilla plant is a naturally-occurring branch mutation ofMandevilla splendens ‘DIP 79’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,698.The new Mandevilla plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor ona single plant within a population of plants of ‘DIP 79’ grown in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Sebring, Fla. on Jul. 9, 2008. Thenew Mandevilla plant was selected on the basis of its vining plant habitand flower color.

Asexual reproduction of the new Mandevilla plant by tip cuttings in acontrolled greenhouse in Sebring, Fla. since Jul. 10, 2008 has shownthat the unique features of this new Mandevilla plant are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Mandevilla have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and lightintensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘FGVP1’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘FGVP1’ as a new and distinct Mandevilla plant:

-   -   1. Initially upright to somewhat outwardly spreading and        strongly vining plant habit.    -   2. Medium green-colored leaves.    -   3. Pink-colored flowers.    -   4. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of the parent,‘DIP 79’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla are more strongly vining than        plants of ‘DIP 79’.    -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla and ‘DIP 79’ differ in flower        color as plants of ‘DIP 79’ have red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the Mandevillahybrida ‘Ginger’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,776. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Sebring, Fla., plants of the newMandevilla differed from plants of ‘Ginger’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla were more strongly vining than        plants of ‘Ginger’.    -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla had shorter internodes than        plants of ‘Ginger’.    -   3. Plants of the new Mandevilla had smaller and lighter        green-colored leaves than plants of ‘Ginger’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Mandevilla plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe actual colors of the new Mandevilla plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘FGVP1’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘FGVP1’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the aforementioned photograph and following descriptionwere grown during the spring and summer in 1.5-gallon containers in anoutdoor nursery in Fort Worth, Tex. and under cultural practices whichclosely approximate commercial production conditions. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 24° C. to 38° C.and night temperatures ranged from 21° C. to 24° C. Plants were sixmonths old when the photographs and description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Mandevilla splendens ‘FGVP1’.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of Mandevilla    splendens ‘DIP 79’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,698.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By tip cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 14 to 16 days at            29° C. to 32° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 17 to 18 days at 24°            C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 35 days            at 29° C. to 32° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 45 days            at 24° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous to fleshy, medium in thickness;            white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Initially upright to somewhat            outwardly spreading and strongly vining plant habit that            requires support; relatively compact; moderately vigorous            growth habit.        -   Vine length.—About 97 cm to 142 cm.        -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 39 cm to 52 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 69 cm to 88 cm.            Diameter: About 3 mm. Internode length: About 3.5 cm to            12 cm. Strength: Flexible, strong. Texture, young stems:            Smooth. Texture, developed stems: Woody. Color, young stems:            Close to 153A to 153B becoming closer to 175A with            development. Color, woody stems: Close to 183A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 5.5 cm to 6 cm.        -   Width.—About 2.8 cm to 3.6 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptic to ovate.        -   Apex.—Cuspidate.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to more green            than 146A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B.            Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A;            venation, close to 146A. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to 146A to 146B; venation, close to 146B to            146C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.2 cm to 1.5 cm. Diameter: About            2 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.            Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single salverform flowers; flowers            arranged in terminal and axillary clusters; flowers face            mostly outwardly; freely flowering habit.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Mandevilla            flower continuously year-round in Florida.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—Flowers last about seven to            nine five days; flowers not persistent.        -   Fragrance.—Faint, mint-like.        -   Flowers.—Appearance: Flared trumpet, corolla fused,            five-parted; flowers salverform and roughly star-shaped.            Diameter: About 6 cm to 8 cm. Depth (length): About 4.5 cm            to 5.5 cm. Throat diameter: About 1.6 cm. Tube length: About            3.6 cm. Tube diameter, base: About 4 mm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3.3 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Shape: Cylindrical, pointed. Color: Towards the base, close            to 144A; towards the apex, close to 60A.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five petals, fused            into flared trumpet; petals reflexing. Petal lobe length:            About 2.4 cm to 3 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.9 cm to            2.4 cm. Petal lobe shape: Roughly spatulate. Petal apex:            Obtuse with truncate tendencies. Petal margin: Entire. Petal            texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            velvety. Throat and tube texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            Petal, when opening, upper surface: Close to 60A. Petal,            when opening, lower surface: Close to 63A. Petal, fully            opened, upper surface: Close to 62A to 62B; towards the            apex, close to 60A to 60B. Petal, fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 63B. Throat: Close to 17A and 17B; towards            the petal lobes, close to 62A. Tube: Close to 63D; towards            the base, close to 45A.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement and appearance: Five per flower in a            single whorl; fused towards the base. Length: About 7.5 mm            to 10 mm. Width: About 2.5 mm to 3 mm. Shape: Lanceolate.            Apex: Acute; reflexed. Margin: Entire. Texture, inner and            outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, inner surface:            Close to 145B; towards the apex, close to 45A. Color, outer            surface: Close to 144A; towards the apex, close to 45A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Strength: Flexible, but strong.            Aspect: Initially upright, becoming more outwardly arching            with the weight of the developing flower. Color: Close to            146A tinged with close to 175A to 175B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement:            Typically five; filaments fused to corolla; anthers,            connivent. Filament length: About 1 cm to 2 cm. Filament            color: Close to 155D. Anther shape: Elongated oblong. Anther            length: About 4 mm to 7.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 12A.            Pollen amount: None observed. Pistils: Quantity: Typically            one. Pistil length: About 2.5 cm. Stigma shape: Oblong to            rounded. Stigma color: Close to 11D. Style length: About            2 cm. Style color: Close to 155D. Ovary color: Close to 145A            to 145B.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production have not been            observed on plants of the new Mandevilla.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have not    been observed to resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Mandevilla plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have been    observed to tolerate temperatures from about 1° C. to about 40° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Mandevilla plant named ‘FGVP1’ asillustrated and described.